After leaving the clinic, Tian Sangui handed the medicine to Zhang, who then passed it on to the beggar girl.
"Take this back to save your brother!"
She looked at the medicine packet Zhang handed her, then glanced at the tightly closed eyes in her arms.
After a long silence, as if he had made a decision, he finally spoke to Zhang and Tian Sangui with a firm look in his eyes.
"We are willing to follow you and serve you like an ox or a horse to repay your kindness to us siblings. We hope you will not find us clumsy and rough!"
“This…” Zhang hesitated, then turned to look at Tian Sangui.
"Mother, we're just getting by, we really can't afford to raise you..."
Tian Sangui was pulling Zhang Shi along, but before he could finish speaking, the beggar girl interrupted him.
“Miss, I don’t eat much, just a mouthful of rice porridge is enough. I can do laundry, cook, and clean the house. I can do any kind of work. When my brother gets better, he can carry water and chop firewood. He can do anything, as long as he has something to eat.”
She looked pitiful, desperately clinging to her only chance to survive.
Tian Sangui didn't want to pay attention, and his brows remained furrowed. He thought she had learned her lesson this time.
Knowing they didn't like her kneeling in public, this time she nodded and begged, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Zhang.
As expected, Zhang's heart softened again at her crying. She wiped away her tears and took the girl's hand.
"You too have had a hard life, but we are not wealthy families; we are just ordinary farmers who depend on the weather for our livelihood. You..."
“Don’t mind, our parents were farmers when they were alive. Later, our village was attacked by bandits, and then… then they were gone. My brother and I fled to the county town to survive. My benefactor, we can do any kind of work, please take us in!”
Hearing her recount her ordeal, Zhang felt even more heartbroken.
“San Gui, why don’t we let them come with us? They can eat whatever we eat. With two more pairs of chopsticks and two more bowls, they won’t be hard to feed.”
Tian Sangui understood what Zhang meant: in the countryside, as long as one is not picky about food, feeding people is not a problem.
With the opening date approaching and staff needed, I figured I might as well use people who weren't going to be paid.
"Fine, just one thing: don't do anything to harm my family, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
The girl smiled happily and nodded repeatedly in thanks: "Thank you, benefactor. Lanjuan and her brother swear that they will only repay your kindness and will never do anything that is against morality or reason."
Zhang quickly helped Lanjuan up and wiped away her tears, feeling sorry for her.
"Let's go, it's so hot outside, you'll get heatstroke!"
Tian Sangui walked ahead first, with Zhang Shi pulling Lanjuan along behind.
Back in the backyard, after resting for a while and drinking some water to quench their thirst, Zhang started to hitch up the donkey cart. Lanjuan put her younger brother on a chair and came out to help Zhang.
Tian Sangui went to the front hall to give the contractor some detailed instructions, and the group hurriedly boarded a donkey cart and rushed back to Tianjia Village.
When they arrived home, it was already dark. Upon seeing the new family members joining them, the four brothers, Tian Da and Tian Er, all smiled broadly, revealing their white teeth.
Upon hearing Lanjuan's story, Tian Laosi immediately invited Lanjuan and her younger brother into the house.
Like Zhang, he couldn't stand by and watch someone die, especially since saving someone is a good deed that brings good fortune.
Zhang first boiled water so that Lanjuan could wash herself and get rid of bad luck and misfortune, so that she could be blessed by the gods and start a new life.
Tian Sangui was helping Lanjuan's younger brother boil Chinese medicine in the courtyard.
A bitter smell filled the yard. Although it was unpleasant, everyone was understanding of the child and didn't say a word of discomfort.
After he finished a bowl of dark Chinese medicine, Lanjuan carried him to the bamboo bed that had been temporarily moved out of the main room, and gently covered him with the thin quilt that Zhang had given him.
Upon arriving in the kitchen, she snatched the work from Tian Sangui's hands: "Miss, from now on, leave these chores to me. I can cook. Tonight, let Madam, Miss, and Young Master taste my cooking!"
Lanjuan chopped vegetables while confidently discussing her culinary skills.
She changed into a floral dress that Zhang had worn, and her long, withered yellow hair was braided into a large braid, tied with a red ribbon at her back.
She shed her previous begging appearance and transformed into a sensible older sister from a farming family.
At the age of teens, when skin should be delicate and supple, the suffering she had endured before had left her face sallow and yellow.
But that doesn't diminish the fact that she's a natural beauty.
When Zhang came in and heard this, she smiled and said, "What 'Madam' and 'Young Master'? We don't use those terms of address in our family."
“We’re all family, so you can just call me Auntie. San Gui is our family’s most pampered little girl, so you can just call her Sister.”
"There are two adults and two children outside, they can address each other as brothers!"
Lanjuan obediently followed Zhang's instructions.
"Oh, Auntie, I understand!"
Zhang couldn't stop smiling; the more she looked at Lanjuan, the more she liked her.
Looking at Tian Da in the yard, it was the first time he had paid such close attention to the kitchen. How could a mother not understand?
"Alright, I'll take it easy then. I'll leave dinner to Sister Lanjuan!"
Tian Sangui teased Zhang Shi from behind, making Lan Juan shyly giggle.
"You little rascal, with your sister Lanjuan around, you can relax and enjoy life from now on!"
The three of them were having a great time in the kitchen. As night fell, the food was ready to be served.
Zhang sat down with a rice bowl in hand, while Lanjuan sat down with the last dish of clear soup.
Fortunately, the square table is quite large, so it doesn't feel crowded even with two more people.
"Come on, try the food Lanjuan made. It smells just as good as what the three of us have made!"
Ms. Zhang politely invited her family to start eating.
Tian Sangui picked up a piece of stir-fried pork. Judging from its color and tender texture, the meat was very tender. He put it in his mouth and took a bite. The broth and flavor spread throughout his taste buds.
"Hmm, Sister Lanjuan's cooking is pretty good!"
"Sister San Gui's praise is just because it's edible!"
Lanjuan blushed when praised and modestly praised her own skills.
The dinner was devoured in no time, thanks to the praise from the family.
When it was time to wash the dishes, Lanjuan pulled Zhang Shi aside and insisted on doing it all by herself.
Zhang couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she had no choice but to give in and comply.
Watching her bustling about, Zhang became increasingly satisfied.
With Lanjuan's help, the house was cleaned inside and out, which greatly reduced the burden on Zhang and Tian Sangui.
Gradually, Tian Sangui lowered his guard against her. Lanjuan was brave, straightforward, and hardworking.
She won the unanimous favor of the Tian family, especially Tian Da, whose eyes were always fixed on Lan Juan, and he would occasionally chuckle foolishly.
Tian Sangui thought he had gone mad and wanted to take him to town to see Doctor Jiang, but Zhang stopped him with a smile.
They jokingly called her a silly girl and told her not to meddle in her brother's affairs. Tian Sangui was increasingly confused about what was going on between them.
I decided to ignore it and focus entirely on creating the menu.
There are a total of 18 signature dishes, 20 main dishes, and 15 vegetarian dishes.
The remaining appetizers and side dishes made up a total of thirty dishes.
We plan to promote the business and organize events before opening to create a lively and festive atmosphere.
While Tian Sangui was making plans for the opening of another restaurant, he was also meticulously planning another one.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com